Ventilation of barrels and boxes



(No Model.)

J. W. BROOK.

VENTILATION OF BARREL$ AND BOXES.

No. 297,225. r Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

u. PETERS. Phoicrliihagmplur. Washington. D. a

JAMES \VILLIAM BROOK, OF AMHERST COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

VENTILATION OF BARRELS AND BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,225, dated April22, 1884.

Application filed August 17, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES \V. BROOK, of the county of Amherst, and Stateof Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVentilation of Barrels and Boxes; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full. clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to makeanduse it, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which formpart of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in ventilation of barrels,"boxes, and other vessels in which grain, fruit, or any perishablearticle is packed or placed; and it consists in a wire coil which isplaced in the middle of the box or barrel for the purpose of forming anair chamber or space at this point, whereby the fruit, grain, or otherarticle is ventilated at the center as well as the sides.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which can be placed inthe center of any grain or perishable article of any kind which is to bepacked in boxes or barrels, or which is to be placed in piles or heaps,and by forming an air space or chamber to prevent fermentation fromtaking place at this point.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention. Fig.2is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 shows a modification.

In making my device I take a coil of wire, iron, wood, or any suitablematerial, and first form'one, two, or more large circles, leavingconsiderable of an end, B, extending out from the coil. After these topcircles or coils have been formed "the coils are reduced in size, asshown, and continued any suitable length. At the other end of the devicea suitable number of large coils, similar to the one above described,are again formed, and the end of the piece of wire is wrapped aroundortwisted into the last coil or ring, so as to strengthen it as much aspossible. An end is also left projecting from this last ring or coil,and this end is then bent down either through the large coils andoutside of the small ones, or outside of the large coils, and then thelower end of this projecting piece is bent into a hook, O, which is madeto catch inside of the large coil at the opposite end. The projectingend which was left sticking out at the first end of the coil is alsobent so as to pass down through the large coils on the opposite ends,and then has its end bent into a hook, C, over the large coils at thefront end, as already described. These two hooked ends serve to preventthe coil from becoming extended to too great a degree when the coil isbeing pulled up out'of the barrel, box, or heap in which it is beingused. These hooks prevent too great an expansion of the coils, and donot in any way interfere with the contraction of the coils to anydesired extent. The large coils at each end are made for the purpose offorming the hearing against the top or bottom of the barrel or box forthepurpose of holding the coil more securely in position.

If desired to fasten the coil in place in the barrel or box,it may befastened down by means of staples, hooks, or any other suitable devicesof that kind. It is not absolutely necessary that the hooks should beformed, for the coil will act in some respects as well withoxt them, butthey are preferably used for the purpose of preventing the coil frombeing drawn out too far, as above described. One of these coils placedin a box or barrel, or under or through a heap of hay, fodder, or anygrain or perishable article, forms an air chamber or space atthis point,and thus prevents heating or fermentation from taking place. \Vhere thecoil is placed in the center of a box or barrel which is filled withfruit, vegetables, seed, or any perishable object, it prevents it' frombecoming heated at the center. \Vhere openings are made through theheads or sides of the barrel the air circulates freely through thebarrel and its contents. The springs, by keeping the center of the boxor barrel open, keep its contents always cool. Where this coil is to beplaced in a barrel containing seed or any other finely-divided material,it may be inclosed in a bag or covering of any kind which will preventthe seed or other fine material from filling the center of the coil andthus preventing it from acting. lVhere these coils are used inconnection with heaps of any kind, they serve to break the solid bulkand divide the heaps up into smaller portions, and thus allow the air tocirculate through with sufficient freedom to prevent heating from takingplace.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction here shown, for thecoil alone, when made ofany suitable material which is strong enough toresist the strain, will answer every purpose.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of abarrel or box in which some perishable article is to be packed with aspring which is placed therein, to allow air to circulate freely throughthe article, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of a barrel orbox to be used in the packing ofperishable articles with the spring which is placed therein, the endsJAMES \VILLIAM BROOK.

Vitnesses:

J. \V. GARNER, XV. S. D. Hamns.

